25 February 2013

The phenomenal Dame Shirley Bassey earned a standing ovation at the Academy Awards when she lead a tribute to 50th birthday of the James Bond franchise. Dame Bassey brought down the house with her performance of "Goldfinger," the iconic 1964 Bond theme song that launched her international career.

The 76-year-old Welsh diva has "defined what has defined what has now become a genre, Bond music," notes the Los Angeles Times in a love letter to last night's performance. Bassey also recorded the self-titled theme songs for Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.